Air cleaner and separator



March '26, 1929.

Filed Nov. 5, 1925 .1 A 0 M A P f J Wu W Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED (STATES-I JENS A. PAASCHE, OF

WILMETTE, ILLINOIS.

AIR CLEANER AND SEPARATOR.

Application filed November This invention has to do with improvements in devices for cleaning air andfor se arating the moisture and any entrained liquid therefrom. The invention has reference par- 5, 1925. Serial m. 66,891.

relatively large pocket of pebbles through which the air is finally delivered.

Other objects and uses ofthe invention will appear from a detailed description of the ticularly to devices for the foregoing pursame, which consists in the features of conposes which are intended for use in the air lines of air compressors or blowers, although, of course, they may also be used for many other purposes and in many other locations.

lhe object of the invention is to provide a separator which will be extremely .eflicient and thorough in its act-ion of separating and removing the moisture from the air without repacking or changing the separating elements, so that the air, as delivered,will be perfectly-dry and clean.

One object of the invention is to provide a large amountof surface with which the compressed air is brought into contact, said surface slanting downwards. on a sufiicient slant to ensure an effective tendency of the de osited moisture to run down towards the polnt of discharge; and to secure this result in a structure in which the air flows in the same downward direction. Consequently, the flow of air itself along this surface will assist in carrying the deposited moisture to the lower end where it may be readily removed.

A further feature of the invention consists in then delivering the air from the lower end of this surface into a container which is wholly or partially filled with relatively small stones or pebbles, which, although closely packed together, nevertheless present a ,very large superficial area on which the moisture may collect, and also present a relatively large area of intermediate openings through which the discharged air may flow at low velocity in order to ensure further effective deposit of moisture. 4

A further object is to, provide a downwardly depending screened opening in conjunction with the aforesaid pocket, so that, as the air is delivered at low velocity from the pebbles, there will be a still further effective removal of moisture by thorough contact with the screen.

A further object of the invention is to prostruction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a vertical longitudinal section through a form of separator embodying the features of the present invention;

' Fig. 2 shows a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fi'g. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 shows a cross'section on the line 33 of Flg. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

F g. 4 shows a fragmentary longitudinal section on the line 44'of Fig. I, looking in the direction of the arrows. Q 5

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the construction therein illustrated includes a tubular chamber 43, the upper and lower ends of "which are closed byl the heads 44 and 45, respectively. These eads are preferably provided with flanges 46 and 47 which embrace the upper and lower ends of the tubular body 43.

Reaching into the upper head 44 is a nipple 47 which delivers the compressed air to a small chamber in the head44. A-tube 48 reaches downward from said chamber approximately two-thirds the height of v the ody 43. preferably drawn together as shown at 49 with a corresponding widening of the tube, as is evident from Fig. 4. The tube is also provided in'iniediately above this 'drawn-in portion with a series of slots 50 on each side, said slots preferably being cut inwards and upwards at an angle, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

\Vithin the tube 48 a coiledspring or spiral rod 51 may be placed, the same preferably reaching the full length of the tube and serving to establish a spiral surface upon which moisture may condense and work down towards the bottom of the tube. Immediately beneath the lower end of the tube 48 is a 50 vide additional and supplemental surfaces incup-shaped partition 52, the center of which contact with which the air is finally brought so as to result in a final and very effective removal of entrained moisture, this supplemental surface being established by means of a is provided with an opening which is protected, however, by'a fine screen 53. The partition 52' is preferably soldered around its edge to the shell 43.

The lower end of this tube 48 is- In the upper head 44 there is another small chamber 54 at the side opposite the nipple 47, and a discharge nipple 55 leads directly from the chamber 54, as shown in Fig. 1. A relatively short section of tubing 56 extends down 'from the chamber 54into the interior of the 'I'hesc pebbles are preferably carried clear up through the top head 48 and closely surround both of the tubes. As a consequence the air delivered from the lower portion of the tube 48 is caused to work its way up through this mass of pebbles which, on account of the very large surface which they present, will thoroughly abstract any moisture from the air and take it onto their .surfaces.

This moisture, as it collects on the surfaces of the pebbles, 'will Work its way down through the body of pebbles and collect on the Y partition '52 from which it will be discharged through the screen 53 into the lower portio of the tubular shell 43.

The lower; head 45 is preferably provided with a side nipple 61 from which the liquid may be discharged under control of a nipple valve 62, the nipple 61 being provided with the port 63 for this purpose. It will be noted that the tubes 48 and 56 are located at opposite sides of the tubular shell 43. As a consequence the air is compelled to travel through the major portion of the mass of pebbles in passing from the inlet to the discharge tube.

It may, however, be found that there is a tendency for the air to channel up along the surfaceof the tubular shell instead of passing through the body of the mass of pebbles. In order to prevent any such action, I prefer to place a partition 64 across the central portion of the tubular head to which it is attached, said partition having a central perforation 65. As a consequence the air is compelled to work over to this central opening 65 in order to get past the partition 64, and

, from that point it will again expand into the body of the pebbles located above the partition 64.

It will sometimes be desirable to establish an air space in the central portion of the mass of pebbles 60. For this purpose, I have,

1 therefore, illustrated a second cone shaped member 66 placed immediately above the member 64', so that these two members together establish an air space between them.

. This will ensure a complete separation of the pebbles at this point, so that whatever moisture would otherwise be liable to jump across from pebble to pebble will collectin this air 65 chamber and will be returned to the settling chamber at the lower end of the device.

I also prefer to leave a relatively small chamber section at the upper end of the device unoccupied by pebbles, as shown in Fig. 1, the same accommodating the discharge tube 56. It is found that'this arrangement ensures a much more perfect separating action than otherwise.

While I have herein shown and described only certain embodiments of the features of my present invention, still I do not intend to limit myself to the same, except as I may do so inthe claims. a

I claim:

1. A separator for the purpose specified comprising in combination a vertical tubular shell together with top and bottom heads therefor, a partition extending across the lower portion of said shell, and having a perforation protected by a relatively fine screen, a central partition extending across the shell at a position above the first mentioned partition and provided with a central air perforation, inlet and outlet connections to the upper head aforesaid, an inlet tube reaching downwardly from the inlet' connection through the central partition to a point immediately above the first mentioned partition, there being a series of relatively small openings in the lower portion of said inlet tube, an outlet tube in conjunction with the outlet connection aforesaid, and reaching into the upper portion of the tubular shell, and a series of relatively small objects substantially filling the shell above the first mentioned partition, substantially as described. 7

2. A separator for the ,purpose speeified comprising in combination avertical tubular shell together with top and bottom heads 1 therefor, a partition extending across the lower portion of said shell and having a. series of relatively small openings, there being a chamber beneath-said partition, inlet and outlet connections tothe top head afore- 110 said, an inlet tube reaching downwardly from the inlet connection to a point immediately above the partition, there being a series of relatively small openings in the lower portion of said inlet tube, an outlet tube in I conjunction with the outlet connection aforesaid, and reaching into the upper portion of the tubular shell, and a quantity of relatively small pebbles within the tubular chamber and above the partition and surrounding the 12 lower portion of the inlet tube, whereby there is presented a relatively large surface by t said pebbles, and whereby moisture will collect upon said surface and pass through the openings of the partition into the lower 1 chamber aforesaid, substantially as described.

J'ENS A. PAASGHE. 

